Kittson Central capitalized on the only penalty the Park Rapids-Menahga-Walker-Hackensack-Akeley boys hockey team had for a 5-4 win at Hallock on Friday, Feb. 19.
Tyler Hennen completed his hat trick with a power-play goal with 6:17 to play to give Kittson Central the win in this battle between Section 8A teams.
Hennen gave the Bearcats a 2-0 lead with goals at the 3:07 and 4:07 marks of the first period before Jaxson Lund made it 2-1 with a goal at the 13:20 mark. Joey Hillukka and Nash Mitchell assisted on the Panthers’ first goal.
Park Rapids took a 3-2 lead in the second period on Quincy Jantz’s power-play goal at the 4:06 mark and Caden Opheim’s goal 1:53 later. Mitchell and Alec Nordin set up Jantz’s goal. Kittson Central reclaimed the lead on goals by Hayden Hennen at the 14:21 mark and Adam Gustafson at the 15:11 mark.
Brody Hagen assisted on a goal by Jack Slagle as the Panthers tied the game at 4-4 5:01 into the third period before Tyler Hennen scored the game-winner.
Goalie Sawyer Torkelson finished with 21 saves for the Panthers, who matched Kittson Central’s 26 shots on goal. Kittson Central improved to 5-1-1 in section games and 6-2-1 overall while the Panthers fell to 1-3 against section opponents and 4-6 overall.
